Changes

==Background==

==Background==

Bledsoe was born in Cleburne in Johnson County south of [[Fort Worth]], the fifth of six children of Willis Scott Bledsoe (1837–1877), a Democratic member of the Texas House for District 23 with service from 1873 to 1874.<ref name-lrl>{{cite web|url=https://lrl.texas.gov/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=2207&searchparams=chamber=~city=~countyID=0~RcountyID=~district=~first=William~gender=~last=Bledsoe~leaderNote=~leg=~party=~roleDesc=~Committee=|title=William Harrison Bledsoe|publisher=Texas Legislative Reference Library|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref> His mother, the former Susan Frances Harrison (1840-1909), a native of Overton County, [[Tennessee]], and known as Sue F. Bledsoe,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18987771|title=Susan Francis Harrison Bledsoe|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref> was widowed when William was eight years of age; his oldest living sibling, a sister, Nellie Bledsoe Templeton (1864–1941), was then thirteen. His younger brother, Albert Sydney Bledsoe (1871–1913), was born and died in Cleburne and was married to the former Nettie McQueen.<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7854482|title=William Harrison Bledsoe|publisher=findagrave.com|author=David Sifford|date=September 9, 2003|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref>​

Bledsoe was born in Cleburne in Johnson County south of [[Fort Worth]], the fifth of six children of Willis Scott Bledsoe (1837–1877), a Democratic member of the Texas House for District 23 with service from 1873 to 1874.<ref name=lrl>{{cite web|url=https://lrl.texas.gov/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=2207&searchparams=chamber=~city=~countyID=0~RcountyID=~district=~first=William~gender=~last=Bledsoe~leaderNote=~leg=~party=~roleDesc=~Committee=|title=William Harrison Bledsoe|publisher=Texas Legislative Reference Library|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref> His mother, the former Susan Frances Harrison (1840-1909), a native of Overton County, [[Tennessee]], and known as Sue F. Bledsoe,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18987771|title=Susan Francis Harrison Bledsoe|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref> was widowed when William was eight years of age; his oldest living sibling, a sister, Nellie Bledsoe Templeton (1864–1941), was then thirteen. His younger brother, Albert Sydney Bledsoe (1871–1913), was born and died in Cleburne and was married to the former Nettie McQueen.<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7854482|title=William Harrison Bledsoe|publisher=findagrave.com|author=David Sifford|date=September 9, 2003|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref>​

Bledsoe was twice married. In 1895, he wed the former Alice Eugenia Collins, the mother of four of his five children, William Scott Bledsoe (1896-1975), Alice Bledsoe Lee (1898-1944), Lois Glenna Bledsoe (1904-1915, and Louise W. Bledsoe (1905-1997). From his second marriage to the former Emma K. Boone (1888-1983), who bore him another son, Willis Harrison Bledsoe (1921-1989).<ref name=findagrave/>

Bledsoe was twice married. In 1895, he wed the former Alice Eugenia Collins, the mother of four of his five children, William Scott Bledsoe (1896-1975), Alice Bledsoe Lee (1898-1944), Lois Glenna Bledsoe (1904-1915, and Louise W. Bledsoe (1905-1997). From his second marriage to the former Emma K. Boone (1888-1983), who bore him another son, Willis Harrison Bledsoe (1921-1989).<ref name=findagrave/>